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Some of the UK’s best-known baby food brands have come under fire following a BBC Panorama investigation that found widespread nutritional shortcomings and potentially misleading marketing practices in popular baby food pouches.

Laboratory testing of 18 savoury, fruit and yogurt pouches from Ella’s Kitchen, Heinz, Piccolo, Little Freddie, Aldi and Lidl, revealed that several products contain high levels of free sugars – sometimes more than a one-year-old should consume in a day – and very low amounts of key nutrients like iron and vitamin C.

Savoury pouches marketed as meals were found to contribute less than 5% of an infant's recommended daily iron intake. One meat-based pouch from Heinz contained just 0.3mg of iron per serving – a fraction of the 7.8mg required daily.

Some fruit pouches promoted as containing 'no added sugar' were found to contain the equivalent of four teaspoons of sugar, due to the blending process breaking down fruit cell walls, a form of sugar that dental experts say is especially damaging for babies.

Vitamin C degradation during manufacturing was also flagged, with Piccolo’s Pure Mango pouch showing virtually no vitamin C remaining after processing, compared to 18.2mg in fresh mango.

Experts told the BBC that such products should only be used occasionally as part of a varied weaning diet, and that parents are being misled by “halo marketing” — phrases such as “packed with goodness” or “as nutritionally good as homemade” giving a false impression of healthfulness.

Hannah Brinsden, head of policy and advocacy at The Food Foundation, said: “Policies are urgently needed to protect the health of our youngest children and ensure they have the best start in life. The existing early years nutrition policies are weak, and the extent of claims on packaging is just one area where the government needs to step up to protect both children and their parents from misleading marketing.”

Top image: © Piccolo Organic Baby Food